Explosive charge for the central tubes of shrapnel-shells and process of preparing same.



E. DU PONT.

EXPLOSIVE CHARGE FOR THE CENTRAL TUBES 0F SHRAPNEL SHELLS AND PROCESS OFPatented Dec. l2, 1316.

.n.llll Tillllwlflllll A. lllllll Il llllllilllulv |111 Il aflllll IA U.Lr. Il Il. .l

..-MTH ...NTHHVH HH..

W/T/VESSJ UNTT sTATEs PATENT onnrc.

ERNEST DU PONT, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO FRANCIS I. DU PONT AND ERNEST DU PONT, BOTH OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE.

EXPLOSIVE CHARGE FOR THE CENTRAL TUBES OF SHRAPNEL-SHELLS AND PROCESS OFPREPARING SAME. 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 19116.

Application filed February 19, 1916. Serial No. 79,239.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ERNEST DU PONT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wilmington, county of New Castle, and State of Delaware,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Charges for theCentral Tubes of Shrapnel-Shells and Processes of Preparing Same, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

Pellets for the central tubes of shapnel shells are usually made in theform of axially perforated cylinders composed of black powder. Thepellets forming the charge for a single tube are assembled end to endand fastened together in some manner to facilitate their introductioninto the tube. Various methods have been used for this purpose. Onemethod now in use is to wrap in paper a set of the proper numberrequired to fill a tube and insert them, paper and all, into the tube.Another method is to wrap the pellets in paper and empty them from thepaper into the tube. In either method, pieces of fabric are pasted overthe opposide ends of the set to keep the loose powder which is in thebase of the shrapnel shell and in the head from getting into the centralopening.

The objects of my invention are: to expedite the operations ofassembling the pellets and Iilling the tube; to render the set ofpellets waterproof, therebyv preventing deterioration in transportation;and to permit the insertion within the tube of an imperfectly alined setof pellets.

To aid in explaining my invention, I refer to the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is a perspective view of one of the pellets. Fig. 2is a view, in elevation, of a holder with a set of pellets mountedthere- Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section' of a set of pellets after therst treatment. Fig. 4L is a view, similar to Fig. 3, after the lasttreatment and inserted in the central tube of a shrapnel shell.

In carrying out my invention, I substitute, for the paper wrapping, awrapping of explosive material, preferably collodion. To

apply this collodion wrapping I proceed as follows: The required numberof pellets a constituting a charge for a single tube g are strung on astraight wire b which, if desired, may be xedly mounted on a holder c.The whole, with the wire in a vertical position, may then be dipped intoa tank containing a collodion solution. The solution, being somewhatthick, does not penetrate into the junctions d between adjacentcontacting pellets, but forms a surrounding unitary skin or coating forthe entire set. The collodion is allowed to dry before removal of thepellets from the wire. Thus there is formed a continuous, flexible,closely fitting tube e of nitrocellulose, which enables the set ofpellets to be handled as a unit as if they were wrapped in paper. Two orthree clippings or coats may be applied, according to the strength ofskin desired. After slipping the set of pellets from the wire, each endof the set is dipped in the said solution, which leaves a window f ofnitrocellulose over the central opening at each end. This prevents theloose powder that is in the base of the shrapnel shell and in the headfrom getting into this opening and dispenses with the necessity ofsecuring a piece of muslin over the ends, as is now customary.

ln dipping the pellets while strung on a wire, instead of dipping themindividually, several results are accomplished. First, the wire, and theclose association of the pellets while on the wire, prevents any windowsbeing formed anywhere throughout the length of the set between itsopposite ends. Second, the set of pellets is kept in alinement while thecollodion skin is drying. Third, this skin has some flexibility, so that`in case there is some accidental disturbance of the alinement of thepellets, the flexibility of the skin permits the set to be pushed intothe tube. The inclosure of the entire outer surface of the set,including the two ends, in a skin of nitrocellulose, serves toeffectively protect the charge from moisture, permitting transportationwith less danger of deterioration than if wrapped in paper.

In place of a solution of collodion I may employ any liquid having theexplosive and moisture-proof qualities of collodion and which isadapted, when dried, to set into the form of a solid, but more or lessflexible, enveloping skin or wrapper.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of preparing perforated pellets fo-r the central tubes ofshrapnel shells, which consists in assembling the same endto end in therelative positions they are to occupy in said tube and covering theperipheral surface of the set and opposite ends with a unitary flexiblecovering adapted to yieldingly hold the pellets in the relation in whichthey are assembled.

2. The process of preparing pellets for the central tubes of shrapnelshells, which consists in assembling the same in the relative positionsthey are to occupy in said tube and dipping the entire set in a solutionof a substance adapted to dry and form a solid tube inclosing the set,thereby providing a charge capable of being handled as a unit.

3. The process of preparing perforated pellets for the central tubes ofshrapnel shells which consists in Stringing the same on a wire, anddipping the same in a solution of a substance adapted to dry and form aunitary tube inclosing the pellets and permitting them to be handled asa unit.

4;. The process of preparing pellets for the central tubes of shrapnelshells, which consists in assembling the Asame in the relative positionsthey are to occupy in said tube, coating the surface of the samewithjcollodion, and drying the same to form a unitary tubular containerfor the pellets.

5. The process ofV preparing perforated.

pellets for the central tubes of shrapnel shells, which consists inStringing the same on a wire, dipping the same in a solution ofcollodion and allowing the coating so formed to dry.

6. The process of preparing perforated pellets for the central tubes ofshrapnel shells which consists in assembling the same in the relativeposition they are to occupy in said tube and coating the entire outersurface of the assembled set including the ends in a solution of asubstance adapted to dry and form an enveloping solid containercompletely inclosing the set and permitting it to be handled as a unitin the tube-charging operation.

7. The process of preparing perforated pellets for the central tubes ofshrapnel shells, which consists in stringing the same on a wire,dippingthe same in a solution of a substance adapted to dry and form aunitary tube inclosing the pellets, removing the pellets and dipping theopposite ends of the set in the said solution.

8. The process of preparing perforated -pellets Afor the central tubesof shrapnel shells which consists in assembling the same end to end,coating the peripheral surfaces of collodion, allowing the coating todry,

removing the pellets from the wire, and dipping the ends in a solutionof collodion and drying to form windows closing the ends of the centralperforation through the set.

10. The process of preparing sets of perforated pellets for the centraltubes of shrapnel shells, which consists in dipping the set in asolutionvwhich upon evaporation leaves a skin of explosive material, andduring said dipping preventing the entrance of the solution into thecentral perforation, and after said dipping forming a film of explosivematerial over the two end perforations of 1 the set, Uthereby preventingthe formation of obstructing films anywhere throughout the set, butproviding protecting films at the two ends.

11. As a new article of manufacture, a set 1 of pellets for the centraltube lof a shrapnel shell, arranged end to end in the relative positionsthey occupy in said tube, and a unitary flexible covering inclosing theperipheral surface and opposite ends of the j Y set of pellets.

12. As a new article of manufacture, a set of pellets for the centraltube of a shrapnel shell, arranged end to end, and an inclosing tubecomposed of a substance applied E thereto in solution and dried.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a set of perforated pellets for thecentral tube of a shrapnel shell, arranged end to end with theirperforations in alinement and an en- 1 velop composed of a substanceapplied thereto in solution and dried, said envelop eX- tending overopposite ends of the opening through the set and closing said openingagainst entry of loose powder from the shell. l

14. As a new article of manufacture, a set of perforated pellets for thecentral tube of shrapnel shells inclosed in a tube of waterproofexplosive material. e

15. As a new article of manufacture, a set l of perforated pellets forthe central tube of shrapnel shells inclosed in a tube consisting of amaterial containing nitrocellulose.

1G. As a new article of manufacture, a set of pellets for the centraltube of a shrapnel 1 shell, arranged end to end, and an inclosing tubeof collodion. l

17. As a new article of manufacture, a set pf perforated pellets for thecentral tube of shrapnel shells contained in a tube and hav- 1 20. As anew article of manufacture, a set of perforated pellets for the centraltube of a shrapnel shell, arranged end to end, and an envelop ofcollodion inclosing the peripheral surface of the set and the endopenings.

In testimony of which invention, I havehereunto set my hand, atWilmington, Delaware, on this 16th day of February, 1916.

ERNEST DU PONT.

